Getting from Agathonisi to Rethymno

If you are heading to Rethymno from Agathonisi you are making your way from the northern Dodecanese group to the most intimate of Crete's three main cities, with a Venetian old town of narrow lanes, a fortress above the sea and a long sandy beach running east from the town centre.

Take the ferry

There is no direct ferry from Agathonisi to Rethymno. Rethymno's port receives very limited ferry connections, primarily a seasonal service from Santorini running a few times a week in summer. Getting there means taking the local ferry from Agathonisi to Leros or Samos, flying to Athens and then flying to Heraklion or Chania, followed by a bus or taxi to Rethymno taking around 1 to 1.5 hours from either airport.

Getting there by air

Rethymno has no airport. The nearest airports are Heraklion, around 80 kilometres to the east, and Chania, around 60 kilometres to the west. Taking the local ferry from Agathonisi to Leros or Samos, flying to Athens and then Athens to either airport, followed by the bus to Rethymno, gives a total journey time of around 6 to 7 hours. In Greece, airlines do not operate direct inter island flights.

Your best option

Take the local ferry from Agathonisi to Leros or Samos, fly to Athens and then fly to Heraklion or Chania and take the bus to Rethymno. Chania Airport is slightly closer to Rethymno and the road between them is a good one.